New Year, New Runs

Hope everyone had a wonderful New Years! Hard to believe it's already 2009. Even harder to believe that I only have three months left to train until Big D. Yowzers! At this point, my longest run has been five miles. I can see that jumping considerably this month. Thanks for the advice from several of you about the Garmin -- I read that Target carries a couple of the models, so maybe I can put my Christmas gift card to good use (thanks Mom & Dad!).

I was in for a real treat (slight sarcasm implied) at our Team run on Tuesday night. We jogged a mile and a half to the unlighted track and did 100-yard sprints around the football field, recovering around the end zones. After 6 laps, my legs were jello. I'm embarrassed to post my 100-yard time, but will so I am forced to improve: 29 seconds. I won't hold my breath waiting for a phone call from the Olympic committee, but at least the speed work will hopefully pay off down the road. Jello turned to mush as we jogged the mile and a half back, where we rewarded our efforts with some liquid carb-loading at Delaney's.

I got in my first run of the New Year yesterday. The weather was beautiful as I meandered down another farm road near my house. The sun was on it's way down, creating a halo of pink and gold on everything beneath it. All was quiet, the only sound the soft crunch of gravel beneath my shoes and the occasional call from a nearby cow. I didn't want to get caught on the one-lane road in the dark, so I turned back earlier than I had wanted. I think I put in about three miles, a mile shy of what I had hoped to do.

Perhaps I can steal away from work this afternoon and head back out there ...

Against the Wind

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas! I ate waaay more than I should have, but can honestly say that I don't regret it. I even managed to get in two miles on Christmas Eve before the hustle and bustle of the holidays pulled Justin and me in several directions.

While Monday was in the 30s, the last two days have been in the 70s. The wind, however, has been ferocious, making our Team run this morning extra challenging. I managed to get in five miles -- the last two miles into the wind -- before it began to lightening and our Coach called us in. I was kind of glad as I don't think my legs could have handled much more! At least the rain held off until I was home, though I know members of another team were still out there battling the elements.

Now that the holidays are over, I have no excuse not to jump back on the training schedule. I was running in the evenings after work, but I'm going to try and train in the mornings now instead. We'll see how long it takes before I hurl my alarm clock against the wall ...

Pushing Through the Holidays

Luckily we got our Team Run in Saturday morning before the arctic front blew in that afternoon. I ran with Suzanne, our fundraising mentor, for the first three miles. It was great to run with someone as experienced as she is, and it pushed me to keep up with her.

I was supposed to hit eight miles, but ended up doing only four. Oops. I'll make up the mileage at some point this week, in between stuffing my face with holiday treats and making last minute trips to the mall to finish Christmas shopping.

The hubby Justin and I went to the Dallas Cowboys' final game at Texas Stadium on Saturday, and it was awesome. Think I can count the constant sitting down / standing up as a workout? ;-)